R Ignition Setting ?

[Bogdan]

Does anybody know what the function is of the R setting for the ignition key ?

I have a 2004 R1150R. A few months ago, I posted on this as well as another forum, that my battery was draining at a rate I wasn’t used to. I learned that the Kisan Signal Minder I had installed was likely the culprit. One person wrote that his battery drained less when the ignition key was in the lock position. He had a bike that was different than mine and that made no sense to me – therefore I did not pursue that line on thought. I should have.

One of my favorite rides is taking two lane highways from Colorado to St. Louis where I have family. When I’m in town I like to visit Motorrand of St. Louis – some of you know George Saunders. George mentioned that he’d heard that some Bemmers should be parked in the lock position.

Finally, I got around to checking the wiring diagram. Sure enough….with the ignition in the lock position there are no functioning circuits. With the key in the R position three circuits are shut down but one remains open – sure enough, it flows to the turn signal relay.

I never parked the bike with the handlebars locked because….why would I ? Since I started leaving the ignition in lock I get significantly less parasitic drain.

I have found nothing in the owner’s manual or the Haynes manual on this matter. Does anyone know why the R setting allows current to flow – among other things - to the starter
Relay ?

[AZBMWRIDER]

I just looked at my owners manual and the only statement it makes about this, is that the ignition is off, steering lock released, key can be removed and handlebars can be turned freely to the stops in both directions .

Only reason for power to be available to the turn signals, would be for 4 way hazard flashers .

Alright, figured this out !!!

With the key in the run position, if you activate the hazard flashers, when you turn the key to the R position the hazard flashers stay on .

You can cancel the hazard flashers by pushing the hazard button again .

It would be nice to have this in the Rider's Manual !!!!!!

I've had my R a little over 14 years and just figured this out !!!!!

[riceburner]

fairly obviously it's pretty important that the 4-way Hazard signal can be left running even when the bike is parked up (eg when you're assisting at an accident, or have broken down and can't get off the roadside).

[Bogdan]

Thanks guys that's got to be it...flashers !! Yeah Az, you've got to wonder why that was left out of the manual. Probably the person writing it didn't know what the R setting was. Hey Rice, it's obvious to me now.

[CycleRob]

The only way to absolutely confirm this is to connect an Ammeter of a DVM (DigitalVoltMeter, 10A scale), temporarily in series with a DISCONNECTED negative cable terminal and the battery negative terminal to monitor the actual current draw. I say, just because the power is provided to a relay terminal does NOT mean it will be consumed when you are NOT using the 4-way flasher . . . like almost ALL the time! It can go to a NormallyOpen relay terminal, a default open circuit, the same as no connection at all.

HINT: You can connect the Ammeter alligator clips to the cable terminal and battery post BEFORE you loosen and disconnect the terminal, so you do not break the continuous connection needed to retain the Motronic's TPS parameters and the time consuming ride-the-bike-trimming of the factory internal fuel data map. If you are careful with the disconnect and re-connect, the unnecessary destruction of Motronic data will not happen. It's not a big deal that you do this, it only makes the Motronic reset procedure not needed -and- eliminates the necessary continuous riding over 35 MPH before the fuel map is "optimized" again.

Will someone do this for us? I'm curious and have no timely access to an OilHead to check this out. Just make sure you do not use the position where the tail light and front parking light is on.

[AZBMWRIDER]

I'll try to do this when I'm on vacation in two weeks, I have eight weeks off, and the annual vehicle maintenance gets done at this time, four bikes and three cars !!

I'll have the tank off of the oilhead for a fuel filter change and battery change .

A few days of work ahead of me !!!

[riceburner]

The only way to absolutely confirm this is to connect an Ammeter of a DVM (DigitalVoltMeter, 10A scale), temporarily in series with a DISCONNECTED negative cable terminal and the battery negative terminal to monitor the actual current draw. I say, just because the power is provided to a relay terminal does NOT mean it will be consumed when you are NOT using the 4-way flasher . . . like almost ALL the time! It can go to a NormallyOpen relay terminal, a default open circuit, the same as no connection at all.

HINT: You can connect the Ammeter alligator clips to the cable terminal and battery post BEFORE you loosen and disconnect the terminal, so you do not break the continuous connection needed to retain the Motronic's TPS parameters and the time consuming ride-the-bike-trimming of the factory internal fuel data map. If you are careful with the disconnect and re-connect, the unnecessary destruction of Motronic data will not happen. It's not a big deal that you do this, it only makes the Motronic reset procedure not needed -and- eliminates the necessary continuous riding over 35 MPH before the fuel map is "optimized" again.

Will someone do this for us? I'm curious and have no timely access to an OilHead to check this out. Just make sure you do not use the position where the tail light and front parking light is on.

If I remember when I'm in the garage this weekend I might have a go - not sure what I'm up to, but if I happen to be de-tanking the bike i'll check it.

[srich250]

The info about the special hazards feature staying on after key removal is in my BMW small hand manual that came with the bike.

By the way, I am sooooooooooo happily blown away at this website and all that contribute as well!!!!!!!!!!

I just got an 02 R1150R with 9000miles in beyond mint condition with so many upgrades that I am lottery blown away at how amazing this bike is. I've been doing little test runs every day for a week now and still in awe over BMW !!!!!!!!!

So damn Badass and my fiancé loves it too, compare to my other bikes and bikes I have ridden over the last 35yrs!!!

I can imagine how good a brand new one is today!!!!